On our first visit to Galicia more than two years ago, we explored the Rias Baixas, the southernmost of the many drowned river valleys that indent the northwest corner of Spain. But as is often the case with traveling by boat, good weather for a passage onward presented itself and we weren’t able to visit as much of the coastline as we’d originally hoped.
So now that we’re back in Spain, we made a point of arriving close to the easternmost end of the Rias Altas, the north-facing counterparts to the Rias Baixas. These upper bays are generally smaller than their west-facing siblings to the south, with each only featuring one or two protected anchorages and a town or two perched on the edge.
The one thing all of the rias and towns have in common is a robust fishing fleet. Back in time, nearly every beach along this stretch of coast hosted wooden boatbuilders. Today, the fishing boats are more modern trawlers, all kept very busy by the Galicians voracious appetite for fresh seafood.
While we’ve spent time in some fantastic places over our past two years in Northern Europe (Cornwall in the UK, the south and west coasts of Ireland, and the west coast of Sweden, in particular), it’s hard to beat this part of Spain for cruising by sailboat. Short hops under sail, decent spots to drop the anchor, and beautiful scenery prevail. When combined with the agreeable pace of Spanish life, where long, leisurely meals and strolls along the city streets take precedence over urgency, we like it here!
